England seek divine inspiration from the Dalai Lama
His Holiness plays host to Stokes & Co... surely it’s a good omen for Ollie Pope!
IT is not clear whether the Dalai Lama is a student of Bazball or prefers a more traditional test approach but if England need a bit of divine inspiration in their attempt to end a long tour on a high note they have come to the right place.
Dharamshala’s most famous resident and known cricket fan invited the England squad to meet him today at his temple high in the spectacular mountains here, where conversation may or may not have centred on Jonny Bairstow’s chances of making a big score in his 100th test.
Ben Stokes is not the type to get too excited about small talk with His Holiness — maybe the Dalai Lama is more excited about the prospect of meeting the England captain — and yesterday he was happier enthusing about where his team are at ahead of the final test.
this may be a first series defeat for England under Stokes and Brendon McCullum but the captain believes his side are getting better and have the perfect opportunity to prove it tomorrow in front of about 6,000 visiting fans at this ‘bucket list’ venue.
‘ If you take the results by themselves you’d say, “Oh, we’re going backwards” but we’re not,’ insisted Stokes, who has not overseen an England series victory since winning in Pakistan 15 months ago. ‘ the team and individuals have massively evolved on this tour.
‘ Progression doesn’t always show itself with results. I think the way everyone committed to becoming a better version of themselves here from when we last played has been quite obvious.
‘When you know you’re part of something special, you want to work your nuts off to keep your place in the team.’
to that end, Stokes is adamant there will be no end-of-term feel about tomorrow’s game, even if they are in a familiar place historically for England teams in India in being 3-1 down.
‘We’ll think about the plane and getting home when we’re in the airport,’ said Stokes. ‘that’s just our mindset towards playing for England regardless of where we are or how long we’ve been away. I won’t be thinking about home until this game is done.
‘ But that shouldn’t take anything away from where we are. this place is pretty special and an amazing venue to come and play a game. We look forward to having the Barmy Army here in force. It is going to be a special game and should be fun.’
the HPCA Stadium looked a picture yesterday as England trained here for the first time in weather that may have been on the chilly side but was at least dry. the outfield that caused a test against Australia to be moved from here last year has been re-laid since the World Cup and looks in perfect nick, while the pitch provided a big surprise for England. they were expecting a green seamer — instead it looks a belter.
that means, with Stokes himself likely to make his bowling comeback in this match, England may keep the same balance to their side and again play both spinners in tom Hartley and Shoaib Bashir, whose spinning finger is sore after the most extensive workload of his life in Ranchi but is ready for another long bowl. Jimmy Anderson, needing just two wickets for the remarkable tally of 700 in tests, looked fit in practice after tightening up in the quad in Ranchi after the extended break before the last test and it could be that England make just one change, bringing back Mark Wood for Ollie Robinson.
One person who definitely plays is Bairstow, who welcomed his family and close friends here yesterday for what will be an emotional occasion for an emotional man. While Stokes described his 100th test earlier this series as ‘just another game’, this is special for Bairstow.
‘ this will be more of an emotional thing for Jonny than it was ever going to be for me,’ said Stokes. ‘I don’t need to go into details about why that is but playing for England means so much to Jonny and his family.
‘I’m super excited for him and he’s been quite chipper the last couple of days. He deserves everything that gets spoken about him this week.’
It is a huge match for Bairstow in more ways than one. He ended the World Cup last year, where he played his 100th ODI on this same ground, with his place at the top of the white-ball order far from certain and the same applies now to his test position.
Harry Brook is expected to be
back when England next play Test cricket, against West Indies in July, and someone will have to give way.
There is no guarantee England will pick Ben Foakes at home despite his flawless keeping on this tour and the gloves could go back to Bairstow. But if they keep faith with the surrey man, as his form suggests they should, then the Yorkshireman is playing for his Test future here.
‘I’ve been pleased with how I’ve played in this series,’ insisted Bairstow yesterday. ‘I’ve had a couple of good balls, a couple of umpire’s calls and I’ve made a couple of bad decisions. That happens when you play against India in India.
‘I’ve been striking the ball well and I’m full of confidence coming into this week. It’s an amazing place and an amazing occasion. To be out there with some of my best pals enjoying the occasion is something I’m really looking forward to.’
A look at one of the most picturesque grounds in world cricket yesterday — with what appears a flat pitch and which certainly has short boundaries — suggests this final Test, weather permitting, could be made for a timely Bairstow special.
And we can assume His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who has been known to pop into his local ground when India are in town, would enjoy that.